The timing, location and duration of territorial tenure, and the mating success and return rates of male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were measured over four consecutive breeding seasons (1984-87) on Bird Island (54°00'S. 38°02'W), South Georgia. Tenure duration (days) followed a heavily skewed. Poisson-like distribution (median 13.08 days, maximum 75 days) and was positively related to the number of years of tenure (r(s) = 0.52, P < 0.0001). Mating success was also biased to a few individuals and was positively correlated to both duration of tenure (days) and the previous number of years in which tenure was achieved (P < 0.0001 in both cases). The timing and location of territorial tenure had no measurable effect on mating success (P > 0.05 in both cases). The probability of a male returning to hold a territory in the next year was not related to the number of years tenure that had been achieved (P > 0.7) or to the level of mating success in the current year (P > 0.15). It was, however, positively related to the duration of tenure in the current year (P < 0.0001). The overall annual return rate was 43% which is not significantly different from the survival rate for the general male population and suggests that territorial tenure does not contribute to increased mortality in male Antarctic fur seals.